Shop

Shop

First Peek: 2009 Dodge Ram R/T

You know those videos that sometimes automatically start playing when you visit automaker websites? You know how you usually click right past them? Sometimes, they're worth paying attention to. If you visit to the 2009 Dodge Ram website, you're treated to a tour of the truck by Ralph Gilles and Mark Allen. Before the design guys give their spiel, however, you get a very brief glimpse of a poster showing '09 Ram body styles and options/accessories. There, clear as day, is a shot of the forthcoming Ram R/T.
When the new Ram was initially unveiled, PickupTrucks.com confirmed that the R/T was indeed on the way. Word at the time was that the R/T would be a standard-cab, 4x2, short-bed truck with a HEMI, 5-speed auto, and a 4.10 rear axle ratio. As you can see in the photo at right, the truck gets a monochrome treatment (a la the Ram Sport), a deep chin spoiler, and a hood reminiscent of the one used on the Challenger R/T and SRT8. As PickupTrucks.com reported, expect the Ram R/T's powertrain combo to deliver a sub-7 second 0-60 time. It'll be interesting to see the R/T's marketplace reception, given that gas prices are likely to continue climbing for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately for Chrysler, it's a less-than-perfect environment for welcoming a new performance-oriented truck. Nothing a little cash on the hood and a locked-in gas price can't fix, right? Thanks for the tip, David!

Reported comments and users are reviewed by Autoblog staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week to determine whether they violate Community Guideline. Accounts are penalized for Community Guidelines violations and serious or repeated violations can lead to account termination.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

That is one seriously good looking truck. Chrysler makes a lot of crap right now but they hit the new Ram out of the park along with the Challenger. It's just a shame they didn't do the same with the Sebring and Avenger.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

I agree. The high-end Ram also has the most attractive instrument panel of any current Chrysler vehicle. Chrysler would do well to put the Ram's gauges in its cars, too. Imagine those in the Challenger...

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

North America is not ruining the enviroment!!!LOL. We are just as bad as anyone else. In western Canada with our oil sands the enviroment for thousands of miles is ruined. The great lakes are ruined, you guy are dumping you garbage out to see destroying the oceans. You are drilling for oil and gas in your protected areas. Nuclear waste will take at least 1000 years or more to disipate. We have cut down the majority of the rain forests, The list goes on and on. We are acting like we are the only spieces on the planet!!!

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Everyone needs to calm down. Everyone here always complains as soon as someone says they can't have "X", or a company won't build "Y" or won't bring "Z" here.

You can't have it both ways. Either everyone is free to choose the car/truck/bike that's right (what ever THEIR definition of right is) or you might as well have some government committee decide what everyone should drive.

Would I buy this truck? No I wouldn't. Do I think we need to change the way we use energy? Yes. Do I agree that car companies should be required to make progress on fuel efficiency, Yes (because they won't do it otherwise).

Do I wan't someone else to have complete control over what I drive, even if it doesn't fit with their opinion of what is "right", Hell No.

Because if you do that with cars, then the next step is the government telling me that my house has to many square feet for the number of kids I have, or that I have to wear shoes made out of recycled pencil erasers etc, etc, etc.

Eventually we'll have the "sin tax" on fuel that Europe has. If you choose to pay that tax on a big truck like this then so be it.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

"Do I agree that car companies should be required to make progress on fuel efficiency, Yes (because they won't do it otherwise). "

Thats not true they wont improve mpg on their own. With $2/gal gas they would not improve milage because at that price the consumer is not interested in high mpg vehicles. However at $4/gal gas people want a vehicle with good mpg and that is where the companies are turning their attention now. Consumer demand for certain vehicles is what spurs the car companies to build that vehicle. If Ford could sell 800,000 Focus..es..'s (Foci?) they would. Instead people bought 800,000 F150s. I don't think I have ever met at person that walked into a dealership to buy a compact car and left with a Suburban. And on efficiency, autos today are far more powerful than they were 10-20 years ago but often return equal or better milage. I would call that and increase in efficiency.

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

I don't drinkI don't smokeI don't do drugsI don't dine out regularily

I have no other expensive vices in life.

My Magnum R/T may require an additional 10-15$ to fill, but it is my entertainment. I have a problem with the lone person in the Yukon/Escalade driving mostly city miles, but people are still allowed to choose.

I dig the RAM... I even wish I had a use for one. This still applies to lots of people. It's very sharp looking too!

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

britinknee

your stupid. go make threats somewhere else besides at autoblog.

Wanna Flame Me?08 Pacifica and 08 300c along with my daughters 08 Sebring Convertible 3.5?Yea they get bad gas mileage.. but its people like you that need a life & get over it. Sure lets help the environment but shut up. seriously

Anonymous

Anonymous

Well apparently $3.50 gas isn't enough anymore to cause some people to change. In the last month I have seen multiple new SUVs, CUVS, and over powered sedans running around (new dealer tags etc)

Such as it is, specialty trucks usually are the domain of people with incomes who can choose not to care too much about the price of gasoline. I say, "Go for it". If your idea of rewarding yourself for hard work and success is a fancy truck that just happens to eat gas then go for it

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

I see the same thing. Many people are making changes but you still see the generic business dude all alone driving his new quad cab to work every day or the mom taking little Betty to ballet in the new Tahoe.

I guess an extra $1200/year in gas means nothing, although you'd hope that the thought of where that money goes, the pollution it produces and the cost as a nation that we have to pay to get the oil would be a factor but I guess not.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

The "new" 2009 Ram? So what(!). It looks like Dodge trucks for the past ten years. Isn't it time for Chrysler Corp.'s designers to come up with a really NEW look for the Ram? Ford's truck looks slightly newer and Chevy's/GMC's trucks look newer. How about it Chrysler? Can't you come up with a total new approach to what a Dodge truck should look like in the 21st Century?

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Yeah, it's still recognizable as a Ram. But good grief, designers are paid to be creative and after looking at the 'big-rig' inspired front-end, it's time for Chrysler to explore other possibilities. Just look at how creative designers can be when they're allowed to explore new design directions. Take the Nissan Titan truck for instance. It's a few years old now, but it's a totally different direction than GMs, Fords, or Chryslers. And Chrysler ought to look at coming up with a design that's just as distinctive as the current Ram, but completely 'new'. And I'm not limiting this to just Chrysler. GM and Ford ought to do the same thing.

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Exactly!!!

I don't know what this moron's problem is but it does not need to be here.

As for the people saying their shouldn't be a performance truck... this is a R/T which means it is sporty looking and really nice inside. That doesn't mean it will be a serious performance truck. It doesn't say SRT on the back of it. It'll have the same 375 or so HP Hemi the other's have, it just has more rear gear. Looks like they finally did the right thing. SRT looks, R/T price, and a little better performance. Sounds perfect. Back in 2004 they offered the Hemi in ST regular cab trucks... that lasted one year. Now we have the chance to have a regular cab with a Hemi and a great exterior look to go with it.